Dani is our Senior Occupational Therapist at Squish Kids. Dani has worked with diverse Paediatric clients and supporting the highly skills team with their clinic and professional skills. Dani is passionate about seeing children and adolescents make progress towards their goals through involvement in fun interest-based activities. Dani loves getting to know each individual, connecting with them, working with them and celebrating successes with families.

 With over 21 years working in Paediatric Occupational Therapy, Dani, has worked at multiple settings including a childcare centre, a special school, a community organisation, a peak autism organisation and a paediatric private practice. The diverse experience has provided Dani with skills to work effectively across the Paediatric age span from 12 months up to 17-year-olds. She has worked on a wide range of goals inclusive of toileting, independence, executive functioning, sensory processing, emotional regulation, coordination, engagement, transitions, handwriting/typing and social skill development. Dani has a special interest in neurodiversity affirming practice and has an autistic / ADHD daughter.

Dani enjoys dancing and is currently part of a belly dance troupe. She loves to spend time at home or at the park with her two daughters, her husband and the family dog.

Jayleen is an Occupational Therapist with a passion for supporting children and their families, through play-based approaches to help children build skills in ways that feel engaging, meaningful, and enjoyable.

Jayleen strives to create a safe and supportive environment where children feel comfortable, understood, and confident to explore and learn. She values working collaboratively with families to support each child’s individual strengths, needs, and goals.

Jayleen has recently graduated from Southern Cross University with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy. During her time at university, she completed two paediatric placements, where she gained experience supporting neurodiverse children and their families in a clinic-based setting. She has experience in areas such as emotional regulation, sensory processing, and social participation.

Outside of work, Jayleen enjoys going to the beach, reading, and spending time with her energetic nephew.

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Ella is one of our Occupational Therapist at Squish Kids. She recently graduated from Griffith University, having completed a Bachelor Degree in Occupational Therapy.

Ella works with children to support their development, enhance their skills, and empower them to engage in everyday occupations through play and personalised support. She is passionate about fostering growth and joy in every child she works with.

Ella graduated Griffith University with Honours and received an Award for Academic Excellence. Ella has several years experience working with children as an Educator at an Outside School Hours Care (OSHC), where she facilitated opportunities for children to enhance their social, emotional, and motor skills through engaging and inclusive activities. In this role, she supported children in group settings, managed diverse behaviours, and built positive, trusting relationships with both children and their families. This experience has strengthened Ella’s ability to design engaging interventions, support children’s development, and work collaboratively with families and caregivers.

Ella has gained valuable experience in paediatric practice through multiple university placements across diverse settings, including schools, clinics, community, and at an OSHC. Through this Ella has gained a passion for working with children and their families to ensure a holistic, family centred and engaging occupational therapy process.

In her spare time Ella enjoys camping, seeing friends and keeping active by going to the gym and walking her two dogs!

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Claudia is a dedicated speech pathologist with over 5 years of clinical experience working with NDIS participants. Working in the community has allowed her to gain valuable experience with a diverse caseload of paediatric and adult participants. She strives to deliver high-quality services and foster supportive relationships with participants and stakeholders.

Claudia is particularly passionate about neurodiversity-affirming practice and has a keen interest in positive behaviour support within the scope of speech pathology. Claudia aims to create empowering environments that facilitate improved communication for individuals and families.

Katherine is the Receptionist at Squish Kids, where she plays a pivotal role in ensuring a smooth and welcoming experience for all clients.

With over 20 years of experience in Allied Health reception, Katherine brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise from her previous background in Allied Health Optical, making her a valued asset to our team.

Katherine’s responsibilities include managing bookings, coordinating rescheduling needs, liaising closely with our Occupational Therapists, and assisting with general office duties. Her commitment to client satisfaction is evident in her dedication to creating a warm and efficient environment, and she is always willing to go the extra mile to support the needs of our clients and their families.

Outside of work, Katherine enjoys spending her time reading, gardening, baking, and making cherished memories with family and friends.

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